gas guage stuck on reserve?
 

ok, i searched, and searched, and searched, and searched some more, using about 30 different ways of asking if the gas tank being removed for a while will cause the gas guage in some way to take its time to start to read. and found nothing. i even googled a few times and came up with nothing. so heres my question, gas tank went onto the bike, bike fired up and the reserve light is flashing, but the tank is full. does this thing take some time to calibrate itself after being removed for a bit or should it pick up right away? everything is hooked up the way it was, just a flashing reserve light on my 01.

I'm not familiar with the system on the '01, I think '02 is when it went to the different style gauge. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you might have not gotten it connected all the way when it went back together. Did a pin get pulled out of a connector maybe?

Make sure the connector is hooked up under the seat. If it is then use a FLASHLIGHT and a MIRROR to look in the tank at the condition of the level sensor. It may be stuck. You can use a hanger or bent piece of wire to gently pull it up. If it falls back down then your float is cracked and has filled with gas.

thanks guys, thats gonna be shitty if its cracked. it worked fine till the tank was removed for the last week or so.

01 has the newer cluster already,

Attachment 28406

Double check the wires first, use the schematics in the manual and check for continuity through the harness. I say that because the red light flashes exactly like you describe when the connector isn't plugged in at all. BTDT

gotcha, thanks alot :)

Have you downloaded the freely available PDF manual?

1998-2003 HONDA Service Manual VTR1000F Super Hawk

Page 360 Section 19-17 LIGHTS/METERS/SWITCHES

FUEL GAUGE/FUEL LEVEL SENSOR (After '00 only)

Remove the seat (page 2-2)

SYSTEM INSPECTION

Gauge does not operate properly

etc. etc.

yup i was looking through it but couldnt find out if it was common for the guage to not work after being unhooked for a while.

It's rather common for the float to last forever while in the drink and if it's dried for a while it dries out completely and then it sinks like a stone... Dunno why but the material obviously likes being in the gas...

Another thing that is unfortunately common is that it's darned easy to pull the wires when installing/taking apart... They are "just long enough" and I have damaged atleast one set... Measure it up as in the manual and see...

It's actually possible to get it out with the tank less than 3/4 full by putting the tank upside down... (as long as your filler cap doeasn't leak)

So you have fitted a late model gauge to an early model bike? If that is the case you will need to fit the sending unit in the fuel tank as well. This is a variable unit as opposed to a switch (either on or off) that sends a signal to the instrument panel as to how high the float is in the tank and hence how much fuel is present. I don't know if the sending unit will fit as the new model tank (2003 and on in Australia) is a different shape and holds more fuel.

um not nothings been changed, its an 01 and a canadian bike and the gas guage worked before the tank was removed, tank was also near full when removed. itll get sorted out i was just hoping it was one of those the bike has to calibrate something after not having the tank on for a while type of things :) thanks for all the input

Whats the condition of your battery? Is the clock continuously resetting along with the trip meters?

Its was doing that before I dropped off the bike to get worked on and john said the batts completely dead now. I'm not sure if he was using his battery in the bike when he ran it or if he had his charger on it or what. I guess a dieing battery would cause that to happen?